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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Twain: Steamboat's a-Comin'

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students discover how rivers inspire creative expression.  In this Mark Twain lesson, students list songs about rivers and discuss common characteristics. They locate the Mississippi River on a map and write a script in which a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adjective Monster

For Teachers K - 2nd
Explore descriptive writing and visual art. Listen to the story Go Away Big, Green Monster by Ed Emberley and generate a list of adjectives used in the book. Name familiar shapes and create a shapes list. Choose an adjective and shape to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watching Wheatstacks

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars explore basic shapes in Monet's paintings Wheatstacks, Snow Effect and Morning. They study about light and shadows through reading and experimenting with three-dimensional models and flashlights.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food and Languages of the World

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders become familiar with the German pickle, part of the Christmas celebration in Germany. In this German pickle instructional activity, 3rd graders listen to the story of the German pickle and its significance to the German...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Referencing the Classical Past

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explore the concept of myths conveyed through art. In this art history instructional activity, students examine "Three Goddesses" and discuss the state of the world at the time that Nollekens created the sculptures as they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Context: Discovering a Painting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars analyze a work of art.  For this historical context lesson, students research the time period in which the art they observed was created.  Young scholars consider differing opinions about a work of art. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking the Chains, Rising out of Circumstances

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research, write, and draw about Roman versus American slavery. In this slavery lesson plan, students look at the Roman portraits of slaves, its influence on Western European art, and compare Roman slavery to American slavery.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celebration and Satire- Beginning Level

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners examine art elements in a late-19th-century self-portrait painting. In this visual arts lesson, students analyze the painting "A Centennial of Independence" and identify the color, shape, and symbols in the art piece. Learners...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Putting a Spin on Current Events

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the symbolism on a 17th-century cabinet. In this symbolism lesson, students view samples of a 17th century cabinet and identify it's symbols. Students create their own cabinet by using various art supplies and paint...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Putting a Spin on Current Events

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover propaganda.  In this Greek mythology instructional activity, students discuss meanings of ancient art work with their class.  Students investigate the dishonesty behind propaganda.  
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Contemporizing Myths

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine Rembrandt's "Abduction of Europa." In this Greek art lesson plan, students discuss how the artist has taken an ancient Greek myth and contemporized it. Students read origin myths and choose a scene to illustrate in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Bug's Journey

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research the art of John Baldessari. In this art history lesson, students examine Baldessari's drawing of a beetle and discuss the characteristics of these bugs. They write a story from a bug's perspective and create their own...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chariot of Triumph

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars examine the tapestry "Chariot of Triumph." In this symbolism lesson, students analyze the symbols in the tapestry and what they represent. Young scholars create their own design for a tapestry by using various symbols that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Elements of Myth

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read and act out myths. In this world mythology instructional activity, students read and analyze myths from various cultures and then recognize their attributes as they prepare presentations of myths that explain natural...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Rose Is a Rose

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Flowering learners explore the concept of figurative language as it relates to poems, songs, or creative written expression. In this creative writing activity, they complete several phrases using similes, metaphors, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Landscape

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the evolution of landscape painting in France from the 17th to the 19th century. They study and compare three landscape paintings, emphasizing space, depth, and the concepts of foreground, middle ground, and background.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ceramics: A Vessel Into History

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine ceramic vessels from different time periods. For this ceramic vessel instructional activity, students work in small groups to look at images of ceramic vessels from a number of time periods. They identify the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Portrait of Nadine Dumas

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students explore a portrait and then create their own portrait as a gift.  In this bust art lesson, students use model techniques to create a three dimensional bust portrait.  Students analyze the elements of the design...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sacred Places: California Missions from Different Perspectives

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars create a project poster displaying photos, drawings, and journal writings that incorporate the major themes of California's missions, and use perspective and point of view both visually and in writing.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life of a Navajo Weaver

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students explore Native American weaving patterns and dance movements. In this Native Americans lesson, students view examples of weaving patterns on the Internet and compare the patterns to a Native American dance. Students demonstrate...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Composition and Line

For Teachers K - 5th
Students examine the use of composition and line as they create original drawings.  In this composition and line lesson, students recognize the art vocabulary associated with line and composition.  Students illustrate the shape...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create an Illuminated Alphabet Word Book

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create a class alphabet book. In this letter recognition lesson, students use line and color to draw an object whose name begins with a specific letter. Students use adjectives to create a sentence describing the object or...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Giants of the Past

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create a paper sculpture based on ancient Greek statues. In this visual arts lesson, students read the book, The Mysterious Giant of Barletta and use cardstock to create their own statue. Students write a narrative story told...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Funky Illuminated Fairy Tales

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars create their own fairy tale.  In this book making lesson, students write a fairy tale and turn it into a book. They use decorated initials and borders to make it look like an illuminated manuscript.